As we move into 2025 and prepare for planting, think carefully about what you can do to set your soil up for a successful harvest. It should start with soil structure, fertility and nutrition. For me, soil testing is absolutely crucial to making good planting decisions – too much and you are wasting money – […]
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Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. Although required in small amounts, zinc is essential for many physiological functions in plants and significantly impacts both crop yield and quality. Let’s explore the importance of zinc in plant nutrition and how to manage it effectively for optimal […]
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Think Agronomy Newsletter – May 2024 With good rain around there is a lot of potential in maize crops, so pushing them to reach their potential makes a lot of sense. Topdressing is one of those inputs that can really make a big difference to yields, with the addition of nitrogen raising yields by another […]
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Think Agronomy Newsletter – April 2024 Since its arrival in 2017, Fall Armyworm has for some been a recurring challenge. For others, much less of a problem. I have been slightly surprised this season by the higher levels of damage early on in crops than I have seen in recent years, but these are not […]
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Nitrogen (N) plays a vital role in enhancing the performance of agronomic crops. It promotes greener growth, optimal tiller production, increased yields, improved grain quality, and better cob and flower formation. Let’s take a deep dive into nitrogen’s critical role, acknowledging the depth of its impact on plant growth and overall agricultural productivity. 1️⃣ Forms […]
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The success of maize cultivation hinges on a series of land preparation practices that encompass timing, planting techniques, seed germination, and the judicious use of fertilizers and soil amendments. In this discussion, let’s unravel the intricacies of these best practices, highlighting their pivotal role in establishing the foundation for a thriving maize crop. 1️⃣ Timing […]
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Proper land preparation for maize is more than a preparatory step; it forms the very foundation of a successful maize crop. The condition of the soil directly influences maize growth, impacting both quality and yield. Let’s delve into the crucial contributions of meticulous land preparation to the success of the maize crop. 1. Enhanced Soil […]
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Maize is a resource-intensive crop. Fertilizers and other inputs are costly. A data-driven crop nutrition program, based on targeted soil and leaf sampling, prevents the over-application of nutrients when they aren’t needed, reducing costs and environmental impact. Understanding the maize growth stages allows for the efficient application of these inputs. Why Focus on Maize Crop […]
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Maize silage is possibly the number one choice for high-yielding dairy cows, with high energy content and high intakes. But what makes a good forage maize variety? After six trials we have found large and consistent differences in yield and feed quality between various hybrids, which should help farmers choose more suitable varieties for high-performing […]
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As speculation over an impending El Niño continues to build, growers are advised to plan ahead to ensure that they are not caught out at planting and are in a position to make the most of what could be a high-potential season. Several farmers familiar with the 1997/98 El Niño have told me “Be careful […]
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Every time I attend a talk, watch a video, or read an article on crop nutrition, the moment I hear the words “Nutrient X is important for [pollen formation / photosynthesis / insert any other process in the plant]”, I switch off. Whilst it is entirely true that different nutrients perform very different functions within […]
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For five years we have tested maize plant populations, and every year we find that the existing advice to plant at 45-50,000 plants/ha does not produce the highest yields or the highest margin – or the best weed control. It is very clear that maize plant populations across the country need a fundamental re-think, and […]
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Maize silage Easy to establish and reliable, maize produces a very palatable and high-energy silage provided that it is well chopped and ensiled properly. Typically over 11 Mj of metabolisable energy per kilo, it is a great way of storing crop to feed for livestock later. The main drawbacks are that it needs to be […]
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I. Introduction Maize is an important crop in many parts of the world, and its success largely depends on proper land preparation. To achieve optimal maize yields, farmers need to know the essential techniques for preparing their land before planting. This article will cover the various stages involved in maize land preparation, from soil analysis […]
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As we approach the potato planting season, good planning is essential to achieve the best from the crop and maximise your profits. We take a look at the steps to consider: Number 1 is certified seed; you do not need the crop to be held back by diseases such as Blackleg, Black Dot, and Rhizoctonia […]
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In many places of the world, soil acidity is a substantial constraint to soil productivity. Sodium, aluminum, manganese, and hydrogen ion toxicity, as well as deficits in critical elements such as nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and molybdenum, all contribute to plant growth suppression. Agricultural management practices have increased shifts in soil pH, raising concerns about […]
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The trials team certainly had high expectations for their Nakuru Maize Variety Trial, but this extraordinary average yield certainly opened their eyes. The Nakuru site is just one of the 8 sites across the country that we’ve test varieties in different climates over the past 12 months. Had we grown the top-yielding variety in this […]
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Soil or land preparation for farming is foundational when growing cereals like maize wheat and barley. In this article we’ll explore the key critical soil requirements for cereal production namely: soil sampling, soil preparation and planting & Deep Nitrogen Testing Soil Sampling Why soil sampling improves profitability How to sample properly Grid vs zone sampling […]
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As crops progress through the growth stages, weed control in maize up to 7-8 leaf stage is crucial to avoid yield loss. There are a number of maize herbicide options on the market, so we explore their strengths and their weak points… Stellar Star Stellar Star is very strong on Gallant Soldier, Datura and Mexican […]
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Knowing your farm cost of production is absolutely crucial for any farming business, and it is an integral part of the advice we give the farmers that we work with at Cropnuts. So every year we take a look through the actual farm input costs of growing different cereal crops (maize wheat & barley) and […]
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Maize plant population and seed rate comparison data from our maize variety trial sites has been very enlightening. Last week we looked at the results of our Cropnuts Maize Variety Trials in 2019 and highlighted how some maize varieties perform very differently at higher plant populations. Within the Variety Trials last year at every site, […]
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Choosing the right variety is important for any crop, but with a crop like maize where there is just so much choice, where do you start? Last season we carried out four fully replicated maize variety trials in the highland areas; in Timau, Rumuruti, Nakuru and Eldoret to independently compare a range of maize varieties […]
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Fall Armyworm control methods discussed in this article are tested by Cropnuts independent Agronomy team. The recommendations given in this article are independent and are not biased to any fall armyworm insecticide company in any way. Fall Armyworm (FAW) or Spodoptera frugiperda , is a new emerging invasive pest that is wreaking havoc in Kenya and many […]
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Maize varieties grown in Kenya, their strong attributes and their vulnerabilities, especially to certain pests & diseases as tested in our maize crop trials. Maize Variety List Pannar 691 Maize Variety Still arguably the standard for yield despite being released in 2001. In most highland areas it requires 160 days to maturity. Good disease resistance […]
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Top dressing fertilizer for maize works best when the timing is key; ie. when it is applied at the correct crop growth stage and at the recommended rate. This is why: For maize, Urea application timing depends on an understanding of the key growth stages. As many crops reach top dressing timing, we look at […]
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